Aya and the Firecats by Gunhild Jensen

Author:Gunhild Jensen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PublishNation LLC
Published: 2021-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Leaving the Tower

“Aya,” whispered Pula after a few heartbeats, “how are you?”

Aya kept looking at her feet. She had not moved since Minas had gone.

“Where’s Kali?” she suddenly asked. Her voice had lost every trace of confidence now. “I’m supposed to look after him… Did he go home after Master Manci’s class?”

Pula patted Aya’s knee and said softly, “He left with Ruba. Since Suggi was busy, they were planning to visit Master Rosa, I believe. To find out if she has any new colors.”

“Oh,” muttered Aya. “I guess Kali’s fine then….”

“Aya, don’t you think…,” Pula hesitated, “that we’d better leave too? After all, Minas did say that Lazu wants you there, and the ceremony will start soon. You won’t be able to follow your plan anyway, now that Minas knows, so we could walk to City Square instead and get a good seat?” she suggested.

It could be hard finding a place to sit in front of Proclamation Rock on selection day, even if you came early. The Crier filled the square with extra chairs and benches to accommodate the many guests from outside the city. People would arrive in the square long before the ceremony began, too. Some would even pack a picnic basket and have lunch there to make the wait more enjoyable. That was the usual practice, however, when no evil threats were looming over the White Mountains. But it could explain why Parade Strait was so crowded. With news of the adjusted schedule traveling fast and Master Hori canceling school today, seats were bound to be scarce already. None of that brought about a change in Aya, though. She could care less and remained on the floor, too sad to go anywhere.

“What does it mean to be banished, Pula?” she whispered. “Do you know?”

Pula frowned. “No… I’ve never heard that word before! How come you mention that?”

“I’m convinced that’s why Lazu wants me there,” Aya said miserably. “The masters have decided to banish me because I took the flowers. They probably think the stone is mine, too, and that I hurt my goat on purpose!”

“Don’t be silly!” exclaimed Pula. “Whatever it is, the masters aren’t about to do anything extreme. They’ve got enough to worry about with the Darkness! You’ll be fine!”

Aya persisted, “But Lazu asked Minas to fetch me! It can only be down to Robin’s pebble and my dumb adventure in Misty’s Garden!” She was sobbing again now.

“You didn’t call it dumb before!” protested Pula. “Come on, Aya, don’t cry! I can’t believe it’s as serious as you imagine.” Holding out her hand to Aya, she asked, “Why don’t we at least watch the square through the visionstone then? It might help you make up your mind!”

Aya heaved another sigh. Pula was not one to give up, so she finally dried her eyes and let her friend drag her back to the eastern window. And at that moment, the small willowbabbler landed on her shoulder again, fully recovered and back to his old, chirpy self.

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